2021 Suzuki Ertiga GL Review | Philkotse Philippines

The compact seven-seater MPV segment is once again heating up as Toyota and Mitsubishi presented their respective challengers. The all-new Toyota Avaza is now available in the Philippines while the refreshed Mitsubishi Xpander is now in the pre-selling period.

Why Suzuki Ertiga 2021 is so Underrated (7-seater MPV) | Philkotse Reviews

While the Avanza and the Xpander are somehow taking the limelight in today’s MPV segment, Suzuki Philippines has a dark horse in its lineup that aims to silently undercut the competition. Enter the Suzuki Ertiga, an MPV that comes with an attractive price tag as well as the capability to transport a family of seven.

Can the Ertiga convince you to steer away from the mainstream competition? More importantly, does Suzuki’s MPV has what it takes to go up against its segment rivals? Here’s Philkotse’s 2021 Suzuki Ertiga GL full review.

The current Ertiga available in the Philippines today comes with a more appealing exterior than its predecessor. The overall exterior design looks more balanced, bolder, and upscale than ever.

The Suzuki Ertiga comes with a confident front end

The 2021 Suzuki Ertiga has an assertive yet smooth front end, which is way better than the model it has replaced. The grille complements the headlights well, which gives the Ertiga a composed demeanor when viewed from the front. The headlights are halogens, which might be a cause of concern since its rivals already come with LEDs. The bumper seamlessly goes well with the whole fascia of the vehicle, resulting in having a balanced front-end design.

It has a conservative appeal when viewed from the side

The side comes with a conservative appeal that has the right amount of flair due to the character lines as well as the blacked-out pillars. The blacked-out C pillar gives the Ertiga a floating roofline effect, which is added style points to the seven-seater MPV. It also has a set of 15-inch alloy wheels that don’t look too fancy but it has enough styling to complement the Ertiga’s side profile.

In case you’re into numbers, the Ertiga’s dimensions are the following: it measures 4,395mm long, 1,735mm wide, and 1,690mm tall. It has a wheelbase of 2,740mm, and a 180mm ground clearance.

The smooth front end is not carried over to the Ertiga’s rear as it comes with several character lines. It’s as if the Ertiga has a dual personality, introvert on the front; while extrovert on the back.

The Ertiga comes with distinctive taillights

The Ertiga’s rear has a good design but it has a lot going on for my liking. That’s not a bad thing though, since the extrovert look of the rear completes the overall design package for Suzuki Philippines’ MPV. It comes with LED taillights, chrome trim on the tailgate, and a lip spoiler with third brake light.

Inside, the 2021 Suzuki Ertiga GL comes with a straightforward layout that features only the essentials. It has a dark cabin that predominantly has hard plastic materials, which is a striking contrast to the Ertiga’s previous top-of-the-line GLX trim.

Simple, straightforward dashboard layout

Suzuki Philippines now offers the GL as the new top-spec Ertiga, axing the GLX variant that comes with a beige interior and wood trimmings. Again that’s not a bad thing since the basic black interior is easier to maintain, and it is more accustomed to budget-conscious car buyers. The decision to cut the GLX for the GL trim makes sense since Suzuki PH wants to undercut the Ertiga’s competition. A simpler interior translates to a more attainable price tag.

The Ertiga GL is for car buyers who are looking for a no-nonsense seven-seater MPV. The urethane steering wheel comes with tilt adjust, and it doesn’t come with integrated buttons for volume and infotainment controls.

It also has fabric seats with manual adjust, a conventional parking brake, and a rotary-type ignition switch. Yes, the Ertiga GL is that simple, but going basic is not always bad especially if you’re the type of person that can live without modern niceties.

Decent legroom for second row passengers

The second row can accommodate up to three individuals with enough leg- and head-room for average-sized Filipino adults. The doors come with bottle holders for second-row passengers, and an accessory socket is also made available. Like other MPVs, the Ertiga comes with a rear aircon that provides sufficient cooling power. The second-row seats also come with a 60:40 split-fold configuration for added versatility in case you need additional space for cargo.

The Ertiga's third row

The third-row seat can accommodate two individuals but the leg- and head-room are quite tight for tall passengers. At best, the third-row seats are ideal for kids.

When it comes to cargo space, you can easily put up to two medium-sized suitcases at the back with the third-row seats up. And yes, the third row can be folded down in a 50:50 fashion, giving you additional cargo space when you need it. Suzuki PH says the Ertiga has 550 liters of cargo space when the third-row seats are folded.

The Ertiga GL is not the most tech-savvy MPV you can buy in the local market. In fact, this category could be the Ertiga GL’s Achilles heel since it lacks several features that its segment rivals have. But, that will not be an issue if you’re already satisfied with the essential tech and safety features that you can expect from cars offered in the Philippines today.

For instance, the Ertiga GL doesn’t come with a rear camera, which is already available in the mid-spec all-new Toyota Avanza. Good thing though, the Ertiga has rear sensors to assist you when you’re parking the vehicle.

The steering wheel doesn't come integrated with buttons for audio and phone

The Ertiga’s steering wheel also doesn’t come with integrated buttons for audio and infotainment controls, which is a bit odd since the said feature can be found in smaller vehicles such as the Honda Brio.

It comes with Apple CarPlay

Despite that, it comes with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The addition of Apple CarPlay makes up for the features that the Ertiga lacks since it helps you have a more comfortable and pleasant drive.

When it comes to safety, the 2021 Suzuki Ertiga GL comes with essential features such as dual front airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), and side-impact door beams. It also has an immobilizer and ISOFIX. The odds are against the Ertiga when you compare its tech and safety features to its segment rivals. But then again, if you’re not that particular with tech features, the Ertiga GL can satisfy your driving needs.

The Ertiga is powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that puts out 103 hp and 138 Nm of torque. The engine is connected to a four-speed automatic transmission.

Equipped with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine

The Ertiga’s engine delivered adequate power when driven around the city with up to four passengers inside the vehicle. The 1.5-liter engine is enough to give you a pleasant drive in the urban jungle. I also appreciate the Ertiga’s transmission as it shifts smoothly considering that it comes with a four-speed gearbox. The engine shifts at around 2,000rpm when driven at a leisurely pace.

The Ertiga has a 4-speed automatic transmission

Driving through short uphill roads in the city is also manageable even when there are six individuals inside the Ertiga. Suzuki’s MPV also comes with a “2” and “L” gear selector, giving you more confidence in case you need to drive through steep roads.

It allows the transmission to stay in low gears, which gives the Ertiga more climbing power. The “2” and “L” can also be useful when you’re driving downhill since they will activate engine braking, preventing the brakes from overheating.

It can accommodate up to seven individuals

The Ertiga also has a light steering feel with enough feedback. It gets firm when you’re driving at highway speeds, which gives a stable ride. The engine can also get up to speed conveniently when you step on the accelerator. Although, you need to set your expectations since the Ertiga is an MPV. Of note, the engine rpm is right below 2,500 when you’re cruising at 100 km/h.

The Suzuki Ertiga GL posted 9.5 km/l when driven within the city at an average speed of 14 km/h. On the open highway, the Ertiga registered 18.3 km/l at an average speed of 90 km/h.

The Suzuki MPV’s fuel efficiency rating is at par with what we were able to get when we took the Geely Okavango for a drive. The Ertiga had a slightly better fuel economy than the Okavango as it returned 8.6 km/l (city) and 15.5 km/l (highway).

The 2021 Suzuki Ertiga GL is priced at Php 923,000, which undercuts segment rivals such as the Toyota Avanza and the upcoming new Mitsubishi Xpander. To put things in perspective, the Ertiga is priced lower by Php 61,000 compared to the Avanza 1.3 E CVT trim. It also retails Php 167,000 lower than the new Mitsubishi Xpander GLX AT.

Suzuki Ertiga GL

It’s evident that the Ertiga’s price tag is its strongest arsenal in the compact MPV segment. It might not have modern amenities or features but if you’re looking for a reliable vehicle that can haul up to seven individuals, the Suzuki Ertiga fits the bill.